A program of Market Umbrella. | | |
Welcome to the second edition of Greauxin’ Good! After a pause, we’re excited to continue sharing quarterly updates from across our statewide network, where nutrition incentive programs are helping Louisiana families access fresh, local food while supporting the farmers who grow it. From new partnerships and policy wins to vendor spotlights and seasonal food facts, this issue is an overview of 2025 and highlights the ways our work continues to grow; rooted in collaboration, care, and community.
As always, thank you to our partners, farmers, and supporters who make this work possible. Together, we’re strengthening Louisiana’s food system one step at a time.
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Investing in Health & Food Access
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Louisiana Blue Invests in Greaux the Good
We kicked off 2025 with exciting news: the Louisiana Blue (formerly BCBS of Louisiana) awarded Greaux the Good a $100,000 grant to support nutrition incentive programming across the state. This funding allowed Greaux the Good to extend its reach into rural, high-need areas across the state and support its mission of increasing access to fresh, local, and healthy food in Louisiana communities.We are deeply grateful for Louisiana Blue’s leadership and investment in Greaux the Good, and for their continued commitment to whole-person care, community health, and strengthening local food systems across Louisiana.
(Press release issued January 23, 2025.)
| | | Building Long-Term, Statewide Sustainability with GusNIP | | Building on this momentum, Greaux the Good also reached a major milestone in December with the award of a 2025 Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) grant through the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. While previous investments supported local and regional efforts, this award provides funding to strengthen nutrition incentive programming statewide over the next four years. | | |
This investment supports an important programmatic transition focused on long-term impact and alignment with national best practices. Beginning in March 2026, Greaux the Good will shift to a produce-only Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Match, increasing access to Louisiana-grown fruits and vegetables while supporting improved health outcomes. Eligible items will include fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs, food-bearing plants, and seeds intended for home food production.
(Press release issued December 10, 2025)
| | Ensuring Access When It Was Needed Most | | |
As uncertainty around SNAP benefits in November left many households navigating gaps in their food budgets,local food systems across Louisiana stepped up to ensure communities continued to have access to fresh, nourishing food.
In response to our statewide network seeing increased need, Greaux the Good implemented an Unlimited SNAP Match, removing the $40 match cap for the month of November at eight participating farmers markets so families could stretch their food dollars when it mattered most. This was in addition to two partner markets that had previously implemented a permanent unlimited SNAP match. This adaptive approach helped stabilize access for shoppers while sustaining sales for farmers and food producers, reinforcing the role of farmers markets as reliable, community-based food access points during times of uncertainty.
| | Credit: Ruston Farmers Market | | |
In 2025, Greaux the Good welcomed five new Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Match partners and one new SNAP Match partner, expanding the program’s reach and impact across more communities. The addition of these partners reflects our continued commitment to increasing access to healthy, local food throughout Louisiana.
While the FMNP Match partnerships concluded with the close of the 2025 FMNP season in November, we are grateful for their participation and collaboration. We look forward to the opportunity to work together again in the future as the program continues to grow.
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Sweet, local, and good for you!
Louisiana strawberries are an early-season favorite, grown close to home and harvested at peak ripeness. Their short trip from farm to market means better flavor, less waste, and more nutrition; just one more reason local berries taste better.
| | | Our work to expand access to fresh, local food is only possible because of trusted farmers like Berryhill Farm and Faust Farms. These farms bring seasonal abundance to Louisiana communities, participate in nutrition incentive programs, and help ensure that healthy food stays local, accessible, and affordable. | | |
Berryhill Farms
📍Loranger, LA
Hammond Farmers & Artisans Market
Berryhill Farm is a beloved family-owned farm nestled on 20 acres on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Run by the Fleenor family, Berryhill grows and delivers fresh seasonal produce, including heirloom vegetables and u-pick blueberries, directly to their community through farmers markets, CSA shares, and their farm store. Their commitment to naturally grown, locally produced food helps stretch household food budgets and keeps food dollars circulating within our local food system. Whether it’s tangy blueberries in the summer, crisp greens in the spring, or nourishing vegetables throughout the season, Berryhill’s offerings provide not only nourishment for families, but also a meaningful connection between growers and eaters across southeast Louisiana.
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Faust Farms
📍 Amite, Louisiana
Hammond Farmers & Artisans Market, Crescent City Farmers Market
Faust Farms, a third-generation family farm established in 1985, carefully tends 60 acres of fertile land in Amite, Louisiana. They grow a variety of high-quality produce, from sweet strawberries and crisp cabbage to eggplant, cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, and year-round hydroponic lettuce, bringing fresh, seasonal abundance to our markets. Their return signals the shift into cool-weather crops, with broccoli and more berries soon to come. Through their participation in farmers markets and nutrition incentive programs, Faust Farms helps support local agriculture and ensures families in our region have access to wholesome, locally grown food.
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"Greaux the Good has benefitted my community by helping keep dollars for local farmers in Louisiana"
– A & A Acres
| | | | Community Outreach, Advocacy & Policy Engagement | | Showing up for Louisiana Families at Our State Capital | | Anti-Hunger Day at the Louisiana Capital | | The Greaux the Good team represented the organization at Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol, standing alongside partners at Feeding Louisiana to advocate for policies that support food access and hunger relief across the state. The day focused on uplifting the voices of communities most impacted by food insecurity and reinforcing the importance of sustained public investment in programs that help Louisiana families put healthy food on the table. | | Louisiana food system leaders visiting the Capital | | Greaux the Good Director Chelsea Jackson attended both the Anti-Hunger Policy Conference and the Medicaid Food Security Network Summit, joining advocates from across the country to advance policies that connect food access, public health, and nutrition security. Chelsea advocated alongside partners and the Louisiana Food Policy Council, sharing Louisiana’s on-the-ground experiences with nutrition incentive programs and highlighting the critical role farmers markets play in strengthening local food systems and community health. | | |
As we move into 2026 and reflect on the continued growth of Greaux the Good, we would like to take a moment to recognize Katie Weaver, who departed her role as Program Manager in May 2025 after serving the program since October 2022.
It was an absolute pleasure working alongside Katie. Together, we built and nurtured this program from the ground up.
She brought not only professionalism and thoughtfulness to her work, but also warmth, enthusiasm, and a positive spirit that elevated every project and partnership. Katie has since moved into the role of Director of Marketing at Abita Roasting Company. Greaux the Good is stronger because of the work she did to help shape and grow the program.
- Chelsea Jackson, Program Director
| | Katie Weaver (left) and Chelsea Jackson (right) | | We welcomed Madeline Pears to the Greaux the Good team in October as our Greaux the Good Program Manager, expanding our capacity to support partners across Louisiana. A Louisiana native, Madeline brings experience in food systems, food business consulting, and regional agriculture programs. Her passion for community-centered food access and producer support directly strengthens Greaux the Good’s work across Louisiana. | |  | Celebrating Three Years with Chelsea | This year, we’re celebrating Chelsea Jackson’s three-year anniversary with Greaux the Good as the Program's Director. Chelsea’s leadership and dedication have played a key role in growing the program’s reach, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring nutrition incentives continue to serve communities across the state. | | | Ways to Engage with Greaux the Good | | Stay Connected: Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for partner updates, surveys, and opportunities to share your experiences and connect with our statewide community. | | |
Thank you for being part of the Greaux the Good community.
Every market visit, partnership, and shared investment helps strengthen Louisiana’s local food economy and ensures more families can access fresh, locally grown food.
We’re grateful to be doing this work together and are excited for what’s to come in 2026!
To learn more about how your organization can help grow and sustain this work, please contact chelsea@marketumbrella.org
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Stay in touch with Greaux the Good! |
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